The Clinical Relevance of Pollen versus Fungal Spores in Allergic Diseases

Indoor Curvularia spores are potential sensitizers in human beings, their prevalence is important for diagnosis and environmental management of asthma. Human beings are known to suffer from major allergens such as fungal spores, pollen grains and house dust present in the atmosphere. Inhalation of air borne fungal spores is the main causative factor for respiratory allergic diseases in human beings. Indoor survey of aeromycoflora was performed by using Rotorod air sampler, Petri plate exposure and eosinophil count of asthmatic patient in Ambajogai. The highest concentration of Curvularia spores was recorded in the house of patient. ‘W’ (12.08 %) in the month of September 2000.

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Aeropalynologic monitoring of air pollution in the Rostov region: the results of the 2019 season

Rossiiskii Allergologicheskii ZHurnal ◽

10.36691/rja1387 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 57-65

Author(s):

Ella V. Churyukina ◽

Olga P. Ukhanova ◽

Elena А. Goloshubova

Keyword(s):

Fungal Spores ◽

Birch Pollen ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Allergic Diseases ◽

Vegetation Period ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Quantitative Composition ◽

Rostov Region ◽

Allergenic Plants ◽

Plant Pollen

BACKGROUND: There is an increase in the proportion of patients suffering from allergic diseases caused by the plant pollen. Aeropalinologic monitoring of the air environment allows us to study the composition of aeroallergens and their role in the formation of pollen allergies. Features of the formation of aerial pollen spectra are closely related to the botanical-geographical and natural-climatic conditions of the region. The Rostov region has its own specific features, which is reflected in the qualitative and quantitative composition of pollen rain. AIM: To study the dynamics of pollination of allergenic plants in Rostov-on-Don, identify the prevailing taxa and create a calendar of pollination of plants for this region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aeroallergens were detected by using a volumetric Burkard trap. The identification of plant pollen and fungal spores was performed by microscopy of colored slides obtained from a sticky tape covered with a special mixture. RESULTS: In 2019, 21 taxa were registered in the air environment of Rostov-on-don (trees, meadows, haze, cereals, weeds), fungal spores were found in the air, represented by the mold fungi Cladosporium herbarum and Alternaria alternata in high growing concentrations. An increase in the vegetation period of pollination of trees (07.03.31.06), mares (02.0503.10), cereals (02.0414.09), weeds (18.0728.10) was detected According to the dynamics of pollen concentration, three periods of its growth were registered: spring-summer, summer and summer-autumn. The presence of birch pollen grains in a clinically significant concentration (36 pollen grain (PG)/m3) in this steppe region, an increase in the peak concentration of ragweed (393 PG/m3) in comparison with the same data for 1971 (265 PG/m3) was found. CONCLUSION: Regional features of the spectrum of air allergens were identified, and a dusting calendar was compiled for Rostov-on-Don.

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Sensitization to Airborne Fungal Allergens Associates with Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis Presentation and Severity in the Singaporean/Malaysian Population

Mycopathologia ◽

10.1007/s11046-021-00532-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yang Yie Sio ◽

Sze Lei Pang ◽

Yee-How Say ◽

Keng Foo Teh ◽

Yi Ru Wong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Allergic Rhinitis ◽

Immunoglobulin E ◽

Fungal Spores ◽

Allergic Diseases ◽

Curvularia Lunata ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Tropical Asia ◽

Prick Test ◽

Fungal Allergens ◽

Fungal Sensitization

AbstractFungal spores and conidia are the major components of total airspora in the tropical Asia environment, and their sensitization patterns are often associated with allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR), and atopic dermatitis. Hence, we recruited a cross-sectional cohort of 9223 Singapore/Malaysia Chinese adults and assessed their sensitization against Curvularia lunata allergen using the skin prick test approach. A subset of this cohort (n = 254) was also screened for specific Immunoglobulin E (sIgE) titers against a panel of 11 fungal allergens. We found significant association of Curvularia lunata sensitization with the risk of asthma (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.17–2.33; p = 0.00391) and AR (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.18–2.41; p = 0.00396). Among asthmatic patients (n = 1680), Curvularia lunata sensitization also increased frequencies of wheezing symptoms (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.05–2.96; p = 0.0239), general practitioner/specialist visits (OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.13–4.61; p = 0.0157), and other asthma-related exacerbation events (OR = 2.14, 95% CI: 1.04–4.10; p = 0.0289). In our serum cohort, sensitization to Aspergillus spp. was the most common fungal sensitization, with 23.6% (n = 60) had a class 3 and above sensitization (positive sensitization; sIgE titers of > 3.5 kU/L) against this allergen. Increasing sIgE titer against Aspergillus spp. was also correlated with increased AR risk and AR-related symptoms. In conclusion, our findings emphasize an important role of fungal sensitization in the manifestations of asthma and AR in the Southeast Asian Chinese population.

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Airborne fungal spores at the Belgrad forest near the city of Istanbul (Turkey) in the year 2001 and their relation to allergic diseases

Journal of Basic Microbiology ◽

10.1002/jobm.200310243 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 43 (5) ◽

pp. 376-384 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Günay Çolako??lu

Keyword(s):

Fungal Spores ◽

Allergic Diseases ◽

Airborne Fungal Spores ◽

The City

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Features of the fungal spectrum in the air environment in the Rostov region according to the results aeropalynologic monitoring 2019

Rossiiskii Allergologicheskii ZHurnal ◽

10.36691/rja1415 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 32-45

Author(s):

Ella V. Churyukina ◽

Evgeniya V. Nazarova

Keyword(s):

Fungal Spores ◽

Fungal Spore ◽

Allergic Diseases ◽

Specific Weight ◽

Regional Features ◽

Rostov Region ◽

Single Center Study ◽

Burkard Trap ◽

Sticky Tape ◽

The City

BACKGROUND: In recent decades, there has been an epidemic growth of allergic diseases, in which fungi along with other allergens significantly play a role in their etiology. Spores of a number of micromycetes are present in the air. Aeropalynology environmental monitoring enables examination of the composition of airborne microorganisms, their dynamics, and role in the formation of allergic diseases. The Rostov region has climatic and geographical features that affect the qualitative and quantitative compositions of the fungal spectrum in the air environment. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the composition and features of the fungal spectrum of the air environment in Rostov-on-Don, to assess the dynamics of the concentration of fungal spores during the monitoring period (March to October), and to make a calendar of plant pollination and fungal spore production for this region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this longitudinal, observational, single-center study, aeroallergens were detected using a volumetric Burkard trap. Identification of plant pollen and fungal spores was performed by microscopy of colored slides obtained from a sticky tape covered with a special mixture. RESULTS: Results of aeropalynological monitoring in 2019 in the air environment of Rostov-on-Don revealed the presence of pollen taxa and fungal spores, represented by the mold fungi Cladosporium herbarum and Alternaria alternata in high increasing concentrations. Their dynamics were recorded throughout the observation period (March to October). The specific weight of fungal sensitization in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis was 11.6%. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies the regional features of the fungal spectrum of air allergens, and a calendar of dusting and sporulation was compiled for the city of Rostov-on-Don.

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Selected Abstracts of Recent Research in Stuttering

Perspectives on Fluency and Fluency Disorders ◽

10.1044/ffd9.1.5 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 5-6

Author(s):

Carrie Bain ◽

Nan Bernstein Ratner

Keyword(s):

Large Volume ◽

Clinical Relevance

Due to the large volume of fluency-related publications since the last column, we have chosen to highlight those articles of highest potential clinical relevance.

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